Doctoral Candidates

My name is Ismael Castañón, and I was born in Valladolid, Spain, in 1999. Growing up, I excelled both academically and sportily, particularly in rugby, which led me to win several Spain championship cups. Even now, as a university student, I still enjoy playing rugby in my free time.

After finishing high school, I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Salamanca. During my fourth year, I traveled to Riga, Latvia for a semester, which was an incredible experience. On my return, I completed my industrial bachelor’s thesis, where I monitored emerging contaminants in sediments in Madrid’s main rivers.

Following my Bachelor’s degree, I pursued a Master’s in Microbiology at the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao. For my master’s thesis, I worked at the Laboratory of Molecular Medicine of the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark, where I developed a cost-efficient T-cell activation assay and gained valuable experience with monoclonal antibodies and protein modeling.

Currently, I work as a researcher for Setlance, a company located at the University of Siena in Tuscany. My current project involves developing a peptide-based drug with antimicrobial properties, which I find both fascinating and challenging. We are working on developing the drug in various formulations and industrial lines, and it’s exciting to be part of such an important project.

Overall, I’m an open-minded individual who enjoys meeting new people, experiencing different cultures, and exploring new horizons.